Jimmy Buffett Album: “Floridays”

next to Changes in Latitudes-Changes in Attitudes, this is the best Buffett album in the entire 30+ year span of his music. If your job allows it, take it and play it there, you'll be guaranteed a day that goes by at a much more plesant pace. This CD spans the Buffett slant on Rock, Creole, Beach Music, Soul, Ballads and his songs about life in general. If "No Plane On Sunday" doesn't tell the best beach love story ever, I don't know what does. Don't forget to search out the Don Blanding book of Florida Poetry which was the inspiration for this CD-"Floridays"ÿ

I think Jimmy's better albums were the ones from early on in his career. His albums from the mid to late 80s were not is best in my opinion. However, this is probably his best album from that period, with the album getting stronger as it goes along. This might not be the best CD for someone looking to add Jimmy Buffett to their collection, but one all fans must own.

"Floridays" is another one of Jimmy's albums that often seems to get looked over by fans, but there is some really strong material to be found here and it deserves more respect than it gets. This is one of those albums that does not blow you away upon first listen, but rather creeps up on you the more you give it a chance. Several of these songs have a lot of subtle charm that you don't necessarily catch right off the bat. "Creola", "First Look" and the title track "Floridays" all fit this category. When I first heard the album I did not really like any of them, but now they are some of my favorite tracks on the album. "If It All Falls Down" is the only cover tune on the album, but it fit's Jimmy perfectly. "No Plane On Sunday", and "When The Coast Is Clear" are both solid songs. The highlight of the album has to be "Nobody Speaks To The Captain No More". Buffett has a history of songs telling the stories of colorful senior citizens and this one ranks right up with his best. The lyrics are rather sad and depressing which is not typical of most Buffet songs, but this one is a very poignant piece of music. The only real weak points on the album are the opening and closing tracks "I Love The Now" and "You'll Never Work In This Business Again". "Floridays" is definitely one of Buffett's most underated albums.

This album is a great one for all you Floridians out there. Floridays is very likeable and realistic for the natives. No Plane on Sunday is one of my favorites and the phrase is echoed in Jimmy's books every once in a while. I also liked when the coast is clear pretty good. I do not mind the rest of the songs except for youll never work in Dis business again. I havent found too many other takers on that one either.

I am writing this review primarily because I was astounded to read the review written by Thomas Magnum "of NJ, USA." Floristinker? Perhaps Mr. Magnum should move from his own toxic waste dump state into a better state of mind. He names several songs and says they are awful. Let's just take two, "Creola" and "First Look." It goes without saying that many non-Southerners could never understand Creola, but any Southerner would instantly recall the Sunday dinners at Grandma's with the family, and the long, lazy afternoon to follow. As for First Look, Magnum probably has no idea what Jimmy is singing about, so I'll tell him. Jimmy is singing about the feeling one gets upon taking a first look at the magical city of Rio de Janeiro (and Brazil in general, for that matter). I have had that "First Look", and Jimmy has hit the feeling perfectly with this song. Thomas, my advice to you is get out and see the world and leave your Yankee notions behind. You may rise above your origins!